CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield apologized for calling the Dallas Police Department gunman “courageous and brave” on Sunday.
After intense pressure and criticism in response to her comment, Whitfield attempted to repair the damage done by earlier commentary.
“During a segment on the Dallas Police Department attack, I used the words ‘courageous and brave’ when discussing the gunman,” she said on Sunday’s 2 p.m. broadcast. “I misspoke and in no way believe the gunman was courageous, nor brave.”
Whitfield originally described the attacker in those terms on Saturday during a discussion with one of CNN’s legal analysts, as the standoff was winding down, about whether the gunman had acted alone.
“It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters,” Whitfield said during the segment. “And now you have this scene, this standoff. So you believe these are the hallmarks of more than one person’s involvement.”
The remark sparked controversy as people around the nation slammed her for words that appeared to cast an admirable light on the man who launched what was essentially a military assault against the police force.
Fort Worth Police Officers Association even took to Twitter, saying that the anchor should issue an apology.
@CNN & @FWhitfield should apologize immediately for this outlandish commentary in the #DallasPDShooting https://t.co/Z3a68Kk2va
— Fort Worth Police OA (@FWPOA) June 13, 2015
The shootout began early Saturday, roughly around 12:30 a.m. The shooter, identified as James L. Boulware, used pipe bombs, guns and an armored car in his attack on the police station and the police department. He was shot by a police sniper at 5 a.m. No police were injured.
Boulware’s father, Jim Boulware, said that his son was mentally unstable and upset with authorities after losing custody of his daughter. Boulware’s brother, Andrew Boulware, also blamed the police for disregarding the family’s requests for help.
“They diagnosed him as ‘sane’ in 15 minutes,” he said. “I didn’t honestly think that he would ever go this far, but it was always in the back of my mind that it was a possibility.”
